The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-04
Mr. Waite Receives, Through the Post. an In
fernal Machne-Its Character Discovered
in Time to Prevent Serious Results
The Anarchists Guarded by Fifty-Four
Picked Men Armed with Winchesters.
Spies. Fielden and Schwab Sign a Petition
Asking Communication of Sentence-The
Construction of the Scaffold Begun.
MIR. wAITE's PERIL.
Anarchist Sympathizers Attempt to Take the
Life of the Chief-J ustice.

Anarchist Sympathizers Attempt to Take the
Life of the Chief-J ustice.
Special to the Indianapolis journal.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 3-Chief- justice Waite
has been spotted for destruction by sympa-
thizers of Chicago's condemned Anarchists, and
an effort was made this evening to destroy him.
Shortly after o'clock, while the Chief justice
postoffce delivered to him a box containing
what is supposed to be an Internal machine. The
box was about eight inches long, four inches
wide and two inches deep. 1t weighed less than
pound. was wrapped in brown paper, and had
a special delivery stamp upon it The box was
received and receipted for by servant, and it
was some time after dinner before it was placed
in the hands of .he Chief efjustice. He took it to
his library, and was on the point of opening it
when he discovered its charater. To your cor
respondent Chief-justic Waite said tonight
that he had received a suspicious package. but
he refused to state its contents. or whether it
was Of explosives, or intended to take his life.
He did not want to talk about it
Clerks at tho postof6ce ssy that a package
was delivered to him as described, but they
know nothing of its contents, and have no idea
from whom it came. No special delivery stamps
were sold at the postofice for some time before
the hour when the package was deposited in the
tanned from the police, and Justice Waite would
not say whether he had reported the matter
Police officers are remarkably mysterious and
reticent. 1t is not known that any of the con-
denned have friends here. or that any of their
adherents were here while the case was pending
before the Supreme Court
The box, which is an ordinary white box, of
the kind in which valentines are sent. is about
six inches wide by eight inches long, and about
half an inch in depth. 1t had printed on one
end, "Beauties of Tennyson," and on the cover
was addressed as follows: ''To the Hon. Chief
justice Waite. sNo. 1415 street, N. W., Wash
ipgton, d. C.-Important papers," The box
had on it five 2-cent stamps and special deiv-
cry stamp. The number of the special delivery
stamp was No. 2S62. and the box was post
marked ''Washington, D. c.. Nov. 3. 4:30
P. NJ" The box contained glass
tube, in the shape of a siphon, about
eight inches long and bent about three
inches from the end. The tube is three
eighths of an inch in diameter, and the hole
about the size of ordinary percussion gun
cap. About an inch aud half from the longer
end is a percussion cap. On the top of the cap
is giant powder extending for and fourth
inches, top Of which is another cap; to this
cap is attached a small wire. and to that is at
tacned a second wire. This second wire was
attached to the top of the box by a hook fastened
to the top Of the box. The remainder Of the
tube contains a dark-colored liquid. Around
the shorte. end Of the tube is q wrapping of
white paper, held in position by mucilage, the
contents of which is. rs yet, unknown.
When Chiefjustice Waite received the box
he immediately opened it. By provldential dis
the wire. which was fastened to the
top of the box, had become detached and the lid
was removed without pressing upon the cap. 1t
is supposed that in stamping the box VIII ich
always occasions jar, the wire had become de-
tached thus saving the life of the Chief Justice.
The police were shortly afterwards notified of
the receipt Of the alleged Internal machine, and
it is now at police Headquarters. The police
claim to have some knowledge os the m failing of
the box, and say that man was seen about p.
NJ. addressing the box to the Chief Justice in the
city postofice. They have no accurate descrip-
lion of the man. and beyond the facts stated
,an give no further Information.